If being in even a slightly warm room makes you sweat like a hippo and leaves you with enormous underarm rings so damp you could easily mop up the bathroom floor with them, help is at hand.
Most people who sweat to excess say they’ve tried everything to rid themselves of that embarrassing perspiration problem, from trying out a vast array of deodorants and antiperspirants to purchasing hundred of creams, potions and other “cures” that promise to make them sweat-free and smelling like a baby (in a clean diaper, of course).
But now there are three ways to get rid of your smelly little secret: Botox, surgery and electric shock therapy. While the first isn’t permanent, it can change your life overnight – for a few months. The second, while more drastic and infinitely more costly, can have you cured forever – even if your over-active sweat glands are not confined to the underarm area. And the third works for most people, although regular top-up treatments will probably be necessary.
What is Excess Sweating?
Everyone sweats sometimes, when we run up a hill in the hot sun, work out at the gym or wear a wool sweater while having sex in a room with no windows in blistering 112-degree Fahrenheit tropical heat. Sweating is a natural body function that helps our skin cool down, and we need that function in order for our bodies to work and perform properly.
We sweat in a variety of areas on the body, but especially in places where our skin can easily rub against other patches of skin, such as the underarms, the groin and between or underneath the breasts. Such sweating is normal and even healthy, it’s when we sweat to an excess degree – and feel unduly embarrassed about it - that it can be a problem.
Known in medical parlance as hyperhidrosis, excess or profuse sweating is a medical condition that arises due to a number of reasons. According to the Mayo Clinic, most patients with the condition saw it begin at age 20 or above, may have family members with it, and have it usually affecting their hands and feet. Before a correct diagnosis can be made, however, other conditions, such as hyperthyroidism and diabetes, must be ruled out.
People with hyperhidrosis can sweat so much that they have constantly sweaty palms, a wet shirt, or beads of perspiration running down their face. Incredible though it may seem, some perspire so profusely that they become scared to leave the house in order to avoid embarrassment, or only leave their homes when absolutely necessary, avoiding all social situations and becoming virtual recluses.
Possible Cures
There are several ways to get rid of your sweaty little problem. They are:
- Botox
- Surgical Removal of Sweat Glands
- Sympathectomy
- Iontophoresis
Botox. That popular poison most well known for paralyzing facial muscles and thus (temporarily) getting rid of the appearance of wrinkles, can also help cure excessive sweating. It works by blocking the chemical transmitters which cause us to sweat.
The most common places to have Botox to cure sweating are the underarms, although it is sometimes used on the soles of the feet or the palms of the hand. However, it is extremely painful to have Botox on your palms, and is not as yet FDA-approved for that part of the body.
Some people have Botox as a one-off – if they are planning their wedding, for example, and don’t want to ruin their dress or appear as if they had just been fished out of the champagne bowl when standing at the altar. For others, it’s a regular part of their health and beauty routine, having top-ups on a regular basis.
Surgical removal of sweat glands. Often recommended for patients who sweat excessively only from their armpits. As scars may result, which can impede the motion of your shoulders, some people opt to have the glands removed via liposuction instead, which leaves a lot less scarring.
Sympathectomy, or Thoracic Sympathectomy. A surgical procedure which involves cutting the sympathetic nerve chain, responsible for, among other things, both blushing and sweating. While some patients find themselves completely cured, others find that after a while they suffer from compensatory sweating in other areas.
A sympathectomy is considered to be the most popular surgical method for this problem. However, there is a lot of controversy about its effectiveness, and also whether the possible side effects are worth it. If you are considering this surgery, it’s important to do a lot of homework beforehand. For some people it has revolutionized their lives; for others, it has only made things worse.
Please note also that there are several types of sympathectomies – and even a sympathotomy – which vary, mainly according to how the nerves are cut. Discuss all options with your surgeon to see which one is best for you.
Iontophoresis. This bizarre technique involves blocking the sweat glands with electric currents. Patients place their hands and feet in special trays of water, while an electric current is run through them. Nobody knows exactly how it works, but scientists think the mineral content of the water combined with the electricity thicken the skin, thus disallowing the sweat flow to its surface.
Patients must sit for up to 40 minutes at a time every second day for up to ten days until they are comfortable with their sweating level. It must be repeated about once a month to keep up the effect. In some cases, patients buy a machine for home use. Sometimes the water is too soft to have the desired effect, so a substance may be bought to add to the water and make it suitable.
Iontophoresis is not suitable for people with certain conditions such as having a pacemaker, for pregnant women and for others with specific conditions. Consult a doctor first!
Prevention Better than Cure
For some people, topical and oral medications may cure their excess sweating. There are several types of prescription antiperspirants available, each containing extra ingredients such as tannic acid or a formalin solution, and there are also calcium blockers and anti-inflammatory drugs which work in some cases. In situations where excess sweating is caused by anxiety, anti-depressants and tranquilizers may do the trick.
Nobody should feel they have to go through life in a sweat-covered fog. If you are constantly feeling all hot and bothered, speak to someone about which course of action you should take. It may involve surgery, it may be as simple as getting a prescription antiperspirant. Or you may just need to have the air conditioning fixed in your office…
The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your health care provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate medical professional.
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